Page 29 of Carnival
I shrug. “I don’t need your answers.’’
“Alright, now you’re just being stubborn.’’
“Well, since apparently, you’ve known me for a very long time, you should’ve known that by now since it didn’t change over the years,’’ I mock.
He rolls his eyes, his upper lip twitching in something that resembles a smile before it’s gone. Just like that, he’s void of emotions yet again, the darkness of his eyes reminding me of an abyss, one that is too deep and twisted. Who knows what I’d find in there?
“You haven’t changed at all, hellion.’’ For a split second, his voice softens. There’s deep longing in the voice, and a jolt of something unexplainable runs through my body, leaving me with more questions than I originally had.
“I want to leave.’’
His eyes snap to mine, lips pulled into a thin line. “No.’’
“Yes.’’
“No.’’
“Yes,’’ I draw out, feeling annoyed all over again. I swear, this man acts like a petulant child, and it’s not a good look. “I’m not asking you. I’m telling you that I want to leave. And don’t think for a second that I forgot the method you used to bring me here.’’
“Stop being dramatic,’’ he rolls his eyes. “You’re perfectly fine.’’
“Yeah, luckily. That could’ve gone terribly. I could’ve been allergic to the substance you used, or you could’ve missed the spot and caused me to bleed out.’’
“You’re not allergic to anything, and by now, I know where to fucking inject a needle.’’
“How would you know if I’m allergic to anything?”
He gives me an exasperated look. “I know everything there is to know about you. In fact, it seems that I know more about you than you do,’’ he flashes me a teasing grin, the mockery reappearing in his eyes.
I choose to ignore it and the flames that are ignited in my chest. “I want to leave, James.’’
“Not yet,’’ he says. “I’m not done with you just yet.’’
“Then tell me what you want from me.’’
“I can’t tell you that.’’
“Why not?”
“I just don’t want to,’’ he shrugs. “But if you so much as think of escaping, I’ll drag you back, chain you to the damned bed, and make sure you don’t see the light of the day again.’’
“Is that a threat?”
He chuckles, the velvety, deep voice ringing in my ears. “A promise.’’
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, my voice a whisper. It’s not intended — but it’s out before I can control it, the vulnerability in my voice causing me to pause and recollect myself. I’ve never been the one to openly show weakness, and I don’t intend to do it now.
Yet, he catches me off guard constantly. It’s been two days — excluding that one night two years ago — and he’s all I can think about. The way he looks at me is driving me to the brink of insanity. He wants to unravel me, to see past the front I’ve been putting on, and to mold me into the person he wants me to be.
Why does that not sound terrible?
My eyes are glued to him as he moves, rising from the chair and standing in front of me. He puts his index finger undermy chin, tilting it upward to meet his gaze. Every rational, sane thought flies out the window the moment he inches closer, his breath mingling with mine.
His eyes flicker down to my lips, then he returns them to my eyes. I can’t explain what I’m seeing — an obsession so deep that it threatens to ruin me, a possessive gleam that he’s struggling to hold back, and most importantly, desire as dark as the night, as vicious as if the Devil himself had come to claim me.
And James will claim me.
It’s only a matter of time, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
